Freezing trays



Nov. 22, 1955 H. M. STEPHENSON ETAL 2,724,243

FREEZING TRAYS 5 Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed Nov. 25, 1951 S Inventors: gh M. Stephenson, Karl 1:35 /%MMk Their" Attorngg.

M. Feier-ta NOV- 2, 1955 H. M. STEPHENSON ETAL 2,724,243

FREEZING TRAYS Filed Nov. 2-3, 1951 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 g Fig.5, Z4 K l F :x

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Inventors: Hugh M. Stephehson, Karl M Feiertag,

b TheiT- Attorneg.

Nov. 22, 1955 H. M. STEPHENSON r-rrm. 2,724,243

FREEZING TRAYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 25 1951 :5 Pi gJO.

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n O i h n. me .3 W5 M n h 2 U H Karl M. F'eieI-tag.

Their- Attorney.

M v 5 a 3 b y a M u flduhnuunnnnu n m 2H 3 y F 4 a l United States Patent OfiFice Patented Nov. 22, 1955 FREEZING TRAYS Hugh M. Stephenson and Karl M. Feiertag, Fort Wayne,

Ind., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application November 23, 1951, Serial No. 257,876

13 Claims. (Cl. 62-108.5)

Our invention relates to freezing trays. employed for forming ice cubes and pertains more particularly to means for releasing the formed ice cubes from the freezing trays.

In most freezing trays, the freezing of ice in the form of cubes or blocks is effected by the provision of means whereby the tray is divided into a plurality of small compartments. This means is usu ally in the form of. a grid; and such a grid usually comprises a longitudinal separator and a plurality of spaced apart transverse separators. In such an arrangement, ice cubesin forming become bonded to the walls of their respective compartments formed by the grid elements and the tray. As a result it is difiicult to dislodge the ice cubes when they are needed. Also in such grid and tray arrangements, it is often difficult to remove individual ice cubes fromtheir respective compartments without removing the grid from the tray or disturbing the balance of the cubes in the tray. Still another problem encountered with freezing trays is the bonding which often occurs between the bottom of a tray and the surface upon which it is supported. This bonding often causes a great deal of difiiculty in the removal of the tray from the supporting surface.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of our invention to provide in a grid structure adapted for use in a freezing tray, means for facilitatedly effecting the release of formed ice cubes from the tray and from all elements comprising the grid structure.

Another object of our invention is to provide in a grid structure adapted for providing ice cube forming compartments in a freezing tray, means for removing individual ice cubes from their respective compartments without removing the grid structure from the tray or disturbin g the balance of the cubes in the tray.

Still another object of our invention is to provide in a grid structure adapted for use in a freezer tray, means for breaking a bond formed between the tray and its supporting surface in a freezer compartment to thereby facilitate removal of the tray.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterizeour invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

in carrying out the objects of our invention, we provide a grid structure for use in a freezing tray and including a longitudinal separator and a plurality of spaced apart transverse separators which are formed alternately with low and high bearing passages in their upper portions. We provide an operating rod formed to include a plurality of alternate low and high crank throws and a crank handle at one end. The operating rod passes through the bearing passages in the transverse separators; and the low crank throws cooperate with the transverse separators having low bearing passages while the high crank throws cooperate with the transverse separators having high bearing passages. Movement of the crank handle through an operating throw causes the crank throws to flex the longitudinal separator while simultaneously effecting relative movement of alternate transverse separators. In order to provide for removal of individual cubes, the longitudinal separator may be divided into a plurality of separators carried loosely on the operating rod between pairs of transverse separators. Also, we form the crank handle so that application of a pressure on one portion thereof effects an upward lifting force on the tray, thereby breaking a bond formed between the bottom of the tray and the surface upon which it rests.

For a better understanding of our invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of our invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partlybroken away, of the preferred embodiment; Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, and illustrates the crank handle after having completed half of an operating throw; Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the crank handle after having completed a full operating throw; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of our invention; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the grid structure of the sec- 0nd embodiment with the tray shown in section; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a sectional View illustratng the crank handle after having completed half of an operating throw; Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the crank handle after having completed a full operating throw; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a third embodiment of our invention; Fig. 11 is a partially broken-away side elevational view of the third embodiment; Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 in Fig. 10 and illustrates the crank handle after having completed half of an operating throw; Fig. 13 is a sectional view illustrating the operating handle after having completed a full operating throw; and Fig. 14 is an end view of the third embodiment illustrating the bond breaking effect of the crank handle.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown in Fig. l a grid structure 1 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of our invention and adapted for use in a freezing tray 2. The freezing tray 2 is of the type commonly employed in domestic and commercial refrigerators and is formed to include a bottom wall 3, opposite side walls 4 and end walls 5.

The grid structure 1 includes a longitudinal separator 6 and a plurality of transverse separators 7. The longitudinal separator 6 is formed to include a plurality of spaced apart slots 8 extending from the top edge downwardly to approximately the mid-section thereof. Each of the slots 8 has slidably inserted therein one of the transverse separators 7. Each transverse separator 7 is formed to include a slot 9 extending from the bottom edge thereof upwardly to approximately the mid-section for receiving that portion of the longitudinal separator 6 below a corresponding slot 8. The peripheries of the transverse separators 7 are shaped to conform with the bottom wall 3 and side walls 4 of the tray 2. This arrangement is eifective for dividing the tray 2 into a plurality of compartments whereby ice frozen in the tray is formed in a plurality of blocks or cubes.

Formed in the upper portion of the longitudinal separator 6 is a longitudinal passage 10 which is oval-shaped in section. The longitudinal passage 10 is intersected by the slots 8 in the longitudinal separator 6 and, since the transverse separators 7 are inserted in the slots 8, certain portion-s of the transverse separators are in reg ister with the longitudinal passage. Formed in alternate transverse separators 7 and specifically in the portions thereof in register with the passage 10 are low bearing passages 11. Formed in the other transverse separators 7 and also in the portions thereof in register with the' passage 10 are high bearing passages 12.

Provided for being received in the passage 10 in the longitudinal separator 6 and for passing through the bearing passages 11 and 12 in the transverse separators 7 is an operator rod 13. The operator rod 13 is formed to include alternate low and high crank throws 1 4 and 15, respectively. The crank throws 14 and 15 are located in the passage so that the crest of each one thereof is in a position corresponding to a slot 8. The dimensional relationship between the operator rod 13 and the'oval-shaped passage 10 in the longitudinal separator 6 is such that the width of the passage is equal to the diameter of the rod; and the height of the passage is equal to approximately twice the radius of one of the crank throws plus the diameter of the operator rod. The low crank throws 14 are each arranged to pass through and cooperate with one of the transverse separators 7 having low bearing passages 11 formed therein; and the high crank throws are each arranged to pass through and cooperate with one of the transverse separators '7 having the high bearing passages 12 formed therein. One end of the operator rod 13 is formed to provide a crank handle 16. v

In Fig. l the crank handle 16 is shown resting on the front and side edges of the tray 2. This is the ineffective position of the crank handle 16 or the position in which it rests during freezing of ice cubes in the compartments formed by the grid structure 1 and the tray 2. During the freezing process each cube becomes more or less bonded to portions of the longitudinal separator 6, the transverse separators 7 and the bottom and side walls 3 and 4, respectively, of the tray 2. The cubes formed in the corner compartments are additionally subjected to bonding to the end walls 5.

The release of the ice cubes after a freezing period is effected by a 180 throw of the crank handle 16 from the ineffective position shown in Fig. 1. However, in order to facilitate the understanding of the complete cube releasing operation, the grid structure 1 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 after the crank handle has passed through half, or 90, of its complete operating throw.

The low and high crank throws 14 and 15 of the operator rod 13 cooperate with the longitudinal separator 6 by engaging the sides of the passage 10 therein and, due to the slots 8, are eifective for flexing the longitudinal separator in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Simultaneously, the low throws 14 of the operator rod 13 cooperate with the transverse separators 7 having low bearing passages 11 and the high throws 15 coopcrate with the transverse separators 7 having high bearing passages 12 whereby the alternate transverse separators '7 are displaced rotativeljy and in opposite directions, in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Throwing of the crank handle 16 to the 180 position, as shown in Fig. 4, reverses the original positions of the low and high crank throws which results in a straightening of the flexed longitudinal separator 6. As also seen in Fig. 4, reversal of the positions of the low and high crank throws is efiective for displacing the alternate transverse separators '7vcrtically oppositely.

It will be seen that the flexing of the longitudinal separator 6' and the various relative movements of the alternate transverse separators 7 will be effective for mov ing each ice cube relative to every wall forming its compartment. Thus, all ice cubes formed in the tray 2 will be effectively released from the bottom, side and end walls of the tray as well as from the various elements comprising the grid structure 1. V

In Figs. fithrough 9 inclusive, we have shown a grid structure 17 constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of our invention and also adapted for use in a freezing tray 18 formed to include a bottom wall 19, opposite side walls 20 and end walls 21. As better seen in Fig. 6, the grid structure 17 includes a longitudinal separator 22 which is flexible and configured to conform with the bottom and end walls 19 and 21, respectively, of the tray 18 The grid structure 17 also includes a pinrality of transverse separators '23. The transverse separators 23 are suitably secured to the longitudinal separator 22 in spaced apart relationship and, as seen in Fig. 7, are shaped on their peripheries to conform with the bottom and side walls 19 and 20, respectively, of the tray 18. Also, alternate ones of the transverse separators 23 are formed in their upper portions and above the upper edge of the longitudinal separator 22 with low bearing passages 24. The other transverse separators 23 are formed in their upper portions and also above the upper edge of the longitudinal separator with high bearing passages 25. The upper edges of the transverse separators 23 having high bearing passages are formed to conform to the under side of another tray which might be placed thereon. This facilitates the stacking of trays.

Provided for passing through the bearing passages 24 and 25 in the transverse separators 23 is an operator rod 26. The operator rod 26, as best seen in Fig. 6, is formed to provide alternate low and high crank throws 27 and 28, respectively. The low crank throws 27 are each arranged to pass through and cooperate with one of the transverse separators 23 having. low bearing passages 24; and the high crank throws 28 are each arranged to pass through and cooperate with one of the transverse separators 23 having high bearing passages 25 formed therein. Secured on the operator rod just outside of each end transverse separator 23 is a collar 29. The collars 29 are efifective for maintaining the just mentioned cooperative relationship between the crank throws and the transverse separators. One end of the operator rod 26 is formed to provide a crank handle 30. The crank handle 30 and the opposite end of the operator rod 26 are covered by sleeves 31 of rubber or the like. The sleeves 31 reduce heat transfer from the users fingers during the cube releasing operation of the crank handle 30 and also prevent direct contact between the operator rod 26 and the edges of the walls of the tray 18 whereby noise is minimized during insertion of the grid 17 into the tray and during movement of the operator rod.

The release of the ice cubes from the compartments formed by the grid structure 17 and the tray 18 is effected by a 180 throw of the crank handle 30. In Fig. 8, the crank handle is shown after having completed 90of its operating throw. During the 90 movement of the operating throw, the low and high crank throws 27 and 28, respectively, of the operator rod 26 are effective for displacing the transverse separators 23 rotatively, in the manner shown in Fig. 8. This displacement of the transverse separators 23 is efiective for flexing the longitudinal separator 22 in a manner similar to that shown and described with reference to the first embodiment. Subsequent movement of the crank handle 30 to the 180 position, shown in Fig. 9, reverses the positions of the low and high crank throws 27 and 28, respectively, whereby the flexed longitudinal separator 22 is permitted to straighten. The reverse position of the high and low crank throws is effective for displacing the alternate transverse separators 23 vertically oppositely, in the manner shown in Fig. 9. The described flexing of the longitudinal separator 22 and relative movements of the transverse separators 23 are suiiicient for freeing the ice cubes from all surfaces of the grid structure 17 and the tray 18.

In Figs. 10 through 14 inclusive is shown a grid structure '32 which is constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of our invention. This embodiment is also adapted for use in a freezing tray 33 formed to include a bottom wall 34, opposite side walls and end walls 36.

The grid structure 32 includes a plurality of transverse separators 37 which are shaped on their peripheries to conform with the bottom Wall 34 and side walls 35 of the tray 33. As also seen in Fig. 11, the transverse separators 37 are provided alternately in their upper portions with low and high bearing passages 38 and 39, respectively.

Provided for passing through the bearing passages 38 and 39 in the transverse separators 37 is an operator rod 40. The operator rod 40 is formed to provide alternate low and high crank throws 41 and 42, respectively, and a crank handle 43 at one end. The low crank throws 41 are each arranged to pass through and cooperate with one of the transverse separators 27 having low bearing passages 38 and the high crank throws 42 are each arranged to pass through and cooperate with one of the transverse separators 37 having high bearing passages 39 formed therein. Also included in the grid structure 32 is a plurality of longitudinal separators 44. Each longitudinal separator 44 is formed of a single sheet of material and in such a manner as to provide in its upper portion a passage 45 of oval cross-section through which passes a portion of the operator rod 40. The width of the passage 45 is equal to the diameter of the operator rod 40 and the height of the passage is equal to approximately twice the radius of one of the crank throws plus the diameter of the operator rod;

The longitudinal separators 44 carried on the operator rod 40 adjacent both the crank handle 43 and the other end thereof are each disposed between a transverse separator 37 and an end Wall 36 of the tray 33 and each is shaped on its periphery to conform to the bottom wall 34 and the adjacent end wall. The other longitudinal separators 44 are each carriedon the operator rod 40 between pairs of transverse separators 37. All of the longitudinal separators are formed at the bottom edges thereof with sidewardly extending lip portions 46.

As in both of the above'described embodiments release of ice cubes from the compartments formed by the grid structure 32 and the tray 33 is eifected by a 180 throw of the crank handle. In Fig. 12 the crank handle 43 t is shown after completing 90 of theoperating throw.

During the 90 of movement the low and high throws 41 and 42, respectively, are efiective for displacing the transverse separators37 rotatively and raising the longitudinal separators 44, in the manner shown 'in Fig. 12. Simultaneously, the low and high crank throws are effective for engaging the sides of the passages 45 and thereby twisting the longitudinal separators 44 in a manner similar to that in which the longitudinal separator 6 is flexed in Fig. 2. Subsequent movement of the crank handle to the 180 or complete throw position shown in Fig. 13

, reverses the position of the low and high crank throws whereby the longitudinal separators 44 are returned to their normal untwisted positions in the bottom of the tray 33 and the transverse separators 37 are displaced vertivally oppositely. 1

Inasmuch as a portion of each ice cube is formed over one of the lips 46 extending from the bottom edges of the longitudinal separators 44, the described raising of the longitudinal separators is effective for breaking the bond formed between the cubes and the various walls of tray 33. The twisting movement of the longitudinal separators 44 and the various relative movements between alternate transverse separators 37 are effective for breaking the bond between the cubes and the elements comprising the grid structure 32.

It will be seen also that because each longitudinal separator 44 is carried individually and loosely on the operating rod 40, this arrangement facilitates the removal of individual ice cubes from the grid after all of the ice cubes are released in the manner just described; This is effected by applying pressure to a cube which causes its related longitudinal separator 44 to swing laterally on the operator rod 40. This swinging movementof the longitudinal separatorcauses the laterally opposite ice cube to rise and thereby facilitates removal thereof.l Thereafter,

thelongitudinal separator 44 may be swung oppositely for causing the cube to which the original pressure was applied to rise for easy removal.

We have included in the last described embodiment of our invention a feature which is equally applicable to the described first and second embodiments. This feature is provided for breaking the bond which often forms between the bottom of the freezer tray and the surface upon which the tray is supported in a. freezer" compartment to thereby facilitate removal of the tray from the compartment. As best seen in Figs. 11 and 14, one portion of the crank handle 43 on the operator rod 40 extends downwardly and is adapted normally to rest on a surface 47 upon which the tray 33 is supported; and the length of this portion is greater than the vertical distance between the axis of the operator rod and the bottom wall 34 of the tray. The end portion of the crank handle 43 extends upwardly and along the edge of one of the side walls 35 of the tray 33. With this arrangement one side of the tray may be lifted from the surface 47 by the application of pressure to the end portion of the handle which extends along the side edge of the tray. By lifting the tray in this manner, the bond which might exist between the bottom 34 of the tray 33 and the surface 47 can be broken and the tray can be easily removed from the supporting surface.

While we have shown and described specific embodiments of our invention, we do not desire our invention to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described and we intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications withinthe spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including a plurality of transverse separators, an operator rod extending longitudinally of said tray, said operator rod being formed to include alternate low and high crank throws, said operator rod passing through said transverse separators, longitudinal separating means eifective for spacing said transverse separators on said operator rod and locating same for cooperation with said crank throws, and said crank throws being effective when said operator rod is rotated through an operating movement for moving said longitudinal separating means between said transverse separators and relatively displacing alternate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is released from all the Walls included in its respective compartment.

2. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including a plurality of transverse separators,

an operator rod extending longitudinally of said tray, said operator rod being formed to include alternate low and high crank throws, said operator rod passing through said transverse separators, longitudinal separating means eifective for spacing said transverse separators on said operator rod and locating same for cooperation with said crank throws, said crank throws being effective when said operator rod is rotated through an operating movement for twisting said longitudinal separating means between said transverse separators and relatively displacing alter nate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is released fromall the walls included in its respective compartment, a crank handle for rotating said operator rod through said operating movement, one portion of said crank handle being adapted to rest on the surface upon which said freezing tray is supported, and said one portion being effective upon application of a pressure on another portion of said handle for effecting a bond breaking movement between said tray and the surface upon which it is supported.

3. In combination With a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including a longitudinal separator, said longitudinal separator being formed to include a longitudinal passage, an operator rod, said operator rod being formed with alternate low and high crank throws, said operator rod passing longitudinally through said passage in said longitudinal separator, a plurality of transverse separators 7 having said operator rod passing transversely therethrough, said transverse'separators each being located on said operator rod at oneof said crank throws, and said crank throws being etfective when said operator rod is rotated through an operating movement for engaging the sides of said longitudinal passage and thereby flexing said longitudinal separator and for relatively displacing alternate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is re leased from all the Walls in its respective compartment.

4. In combination with a freezing tray, 21 grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a, plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including a longitudinal separator, said longitudinal separator being formed to include a longitudinal passage, in the upper portion thereof, an operator rod formed with a plurality of alternate low and high crank throws, said operator rod being further formed to include a crank handle, said operator rod passing longitudinally through said passage in said longitudinal separator, said longitudinal separator having a plurality of slots in the upper edge thereof and intersecting said longitudinal passage at said crank throws, a plurality of transverse separators inserted in said slots and having said operator rod passing transversely therethrough, and said crank throws being effective when said crank handle is moved through an operating movement for engaging the sides of said longitudinal passage and thereby flexing said longitudinal separator and for relatively displacing alternate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is released from all the walls included in its respective compartment.

5. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including an operator rod formed to include a plurality of alternate low and high crank throws, said operator rod being further formed to include a handle, a longitudinal separator, said longitudinal separator being formed to include a longitudinal passage in the upper portion thereof for having said operator rod pass longitudinal- 1y therethrough, said longitudinal passage being at least equal in width to the diameter of said operator rod, said passage being approximately equal in height to twice the radius of one of said crank throws plus the diameter of said operator rod, said longitudinal separator being further formed to include a plurality of spaced apart slots in the upper edge thereof and intersecting said longitudinal passage at said crank throws, a plurality of transverse separators inserted in said slots, said transverse separators having portions thereof in register with said longitudinal passage, said transverse separators having low and high bearing passages formed alternately in the portions thereof in register with said longitudinal passage for receiv ing said low and high crank throws, respectively, and

said crank throws being efiective when said crank handle is moved through an operating movement for engaging the sides 'of said longitudinal passage and thereby flexing said longitudinal separator and for relatively displacing said alternate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is released from all the walls included in its respective compartment.

6. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including a longitudinal separator, a plurality of transverse separators carried spacedly by said longitudinal separator, an operator rod extending longitudinally of said tray and passing transversely through said transverse separators, said operator rod being formed with alternate low and high crank throws, said transverse separators being formed alternately with low and high bearing passages for receiving said low and high crank throws, respectively, said crank throws being effective when said operator rod is rotated through an operating movement for displacing relatively alternate transverse separators and thereby flexing said longitudinal separator, and the relative displacement of said alternate transverse separators and the flexing of s id. longitudinal separator being effective for releasing each ice cube from all the walls included in its respective compartment.

7. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including alongitudinal separator, a plurality of transverse separators carried spacedly by said longitudinal separator, the upper portions of said transverse separators extending above the upper edge of said longitudinal separator, an operator rod extending longitudinal- 1y of said tray and passing transversely through said upper portions of said transverse separators, said operator rod being formed with alternate low and high crank throws, said operator rod being further formed with a crank handle on one end thereof, Said transverse 6P- arators being formed alternately with low and high hearing passages in said upper portions thereof for receiving said low and high crank throws, respectively, said crank throws being effective when said crank handle is moved through an operating movement for displacing relatively alternate transverse separators and thereby flexing said longitudinal separator, and the relative displacement of said alternate transverse separators and the flexing of said longitudinal separator being effective for releasing each ice cube from all the Walls included in its respective compartment.

8. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including a longitudinal separator, a plurality of transverse separators carried spacedly by said longitudinal separator, the upper portions of said transverse separators extending above the upper edge of said longitudinal separator, the upper edges of at least some of said transverse separators being shaped to receive and conform to the bottom of another freezing tray whereby stacking of another freezing tray on said grid structure is facilitated, an operator rod extending longitudinally of said tray and passing transversely through said upper portions of said transverse separators, said operator rod being formed with alternate low and high crank throws, said operator rod being further formed with a crank handle on one end thereof, said transverse separators being formed alternately with low and high bearing passages in said upper portions thereof for receiving said low and high crank throws, respectively, said crank throws being effective when said crank handle is moved through an operating movement for displacing relatively alternate transverse separators and thereby flexing said longitudinal separator, and the relative displacement of said alternate transverse separators and the flexing of said longitudinal separator being effective for releasing each ice cube from all the walls included in its respective cornpartment.

9. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with'said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid struca ture including a plurality of transverse separators, an operator rod extending longitudinally of said tray and passing transversely through said transverse separators, said operator rod being formed with alternate low and high crank throws, a plurality of longitudinal separators, said longitudinal separators being formed with longitudinal passages for having said operator rod pass therethrough, said longitudinal separators being effective for spacing said transverse separators on'said operator rod and locating each on one of said crank throws, said crank throws being effective when said operator rod is rotated through an, operating movement for engaging the sides o sai pass g i sai l ngit dinal p o nd ther by t is in said on udin l. ep ra ors an for relatively displacing alternate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is released from all the walls included in its respective compartment, and said longitudinal separators being adapted for swinging movement on said operator rod whereby removal of individual released ice cubes is facilitated.

10. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to produce a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including a plurality of transverse separators, said transverse separators having low and high bearing pas sages formed alternately therein, an operator rod extending longitudinally of said tray and passing through said bearing passages in said transverse separators, said operator rod being formed to include alternate low and high crank throws, said operator rod being further formed to include a crank handle at one end thereof, a plurality of longitudinal separators, said longitudinal separators being formed with longitudinal passages for having said operator rod pass therethrough, said longitudinal separators being effective for spacing said transverse separators on said operator rod, said longitudinal separators being effective for locating said transverse separators having low bearing passages on said low crank throws and for locating said transverse separators having high bearing passages on said high crank throws, said crank throws being eifective when said crank handle is moved through an operating movement for engaging the sides of said longitudinal passages in said longitudinal separators and thereby twisting said longitudinal separators and for displacing relatively alternate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is released from all the walls included in its respective compartment.

11. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure for cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including an operator rod extending longitudinally of said tray and formed to include a plurality of alternate low and high crank throws, a corresponding plurality of transverse separators, said transverse separators having low and high bearing passages formed alternately therein for receiving said low and high crank throws, respectively, a plurality of longitudinal separators, each of said longitudinal separators being formed to include a longitudinal passage in the upper portion thereof for having said operator rod pass therethrough, said longitudinal passage being at least equal in width to the diameter of said operator rod, said passage being approximately equal in height to twice the radius of one of said crank throws plus the diameter of said operator rod, said longitudinal separators being effective for spacing said transverse separators on said operator rod, said longitudinal separators being effective for locating said transverse separators having low bearing passages on said low crank throws and for locating said transverse separators having high bearing passages on said high crank throws, said crank throws being effective when said operator rod rotates through an operating movement for engaging the sides of said passages in said longitudinal separators and thereby twisting said longitudinal separators and for relatively displacing alternate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is released from all the walls included in its respective compartment, a crank handle for rotating said operator rod through said operating movement, one portion of said crank handle being adapted to rest on the surface upon which said freezing tray is supported, an end portion of said handle being adapted to be disposed normally along a side edge of said tray, said crank handle being adapted for elfecting a bond breaking movement between said tray and the surface upon which it is supported when a force is exerted on said end portion.

12. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including a plurality of transverse separators, an operator rod extending longitudinally of said tray and including alternate low and high crank throws, said transverse separators being formed alternately with low and high bearing passages for receiving said low and high crank throws, respectively, and longitudinal separating means effective for spacing said transverse separators on said operator rod, said crank throws being effective when said operator rod is rotated through an operating movement for moving said longitudinal separating means between said transverse separators and relatively displacing alternate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is released from all the walls included in its respective compartment.

13. In combination with a freezing tray, a grid structure cooperating with said freezing tray to provide a plurality of ice cube forming compartments, said grid structure including an operator rod having a plurality of alternate low and high crank throws and a handle, and a longitudinal separator, said longitudinal separator being formed to include a longitudinal passage in the upper portion thereof for having said operator rod pass longitudinally therethrough, said longitudinal passage being at least equal in width to the diameter of said operator rod, said passage being approximately equal in height to twice the radius of one of said crank throws plus the diameter of said operator rod, said crank throws being eflective when said crank handle is moved through an operating movement for engaging the sides of said longitudinal passage and thereby flexing said longitudinal separator and for relatively displacing said alternate transverse separators whereby each ice cube is released from all the walls included in its respective compartment.

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